THE PROCESSION.

Thames Star, Volume LXI, Issue 16940, 2 August 1927, Page 5

THE PROCESSION.

BEST EVER SEEN. The official programme stated that a monster procession would leave the Royal Hotel corner at 11 o’clock Monday. There must have been some inside information available to the Committee. for the public did not expect the splendid result that wended its way

through the town yesterday morning. It was simply amazing how Thames people lose, to the occasion. It was given the p*alm by every one as being the largest and most diversified that had ever been seen in the streets of this town. Exhibits started to assemble before 10 a.m, in the vicinity of the Royal Hotel and the Committee, under the marshallship of Sergt.-Major Cossgrove acted wisely in placing some of them in Albert Street before the crush became too great. By 10.45 it became evident that something out of the ordinary was going to happen, and as the tail of the procession got larger and larger the vanguard, the VI Hauraki Band was placed at the Cochrane Street intersection with Pollen Street. Behind it in Pollen Street came cars, then schoolchildren. These flowed into Albert Street. More conveyances swelled the procession right down Al-. bert Street into Brown Street, through Owen Street and finally into Burke Street. The pioneers were picked up at the railway station, placed into motor cars, and joined in the head of the procession.

Naturally such a large body of people took some marshalling, but the Com mittee’s energetic work caused very little delay and about 11.30 the whistle was blown for the start. The Band struck up an inspiring march and the procession moved off.

Pollen Street was black with people and each side of the street was augmented with cars from all over the district. There must have been ten thousand people assembled during the morning, a sight Thames has not seen for several decades.

They were orderly and good natured. It was Jubilee Day, and everyone was making the most of it. They did not mind a little jostling, and as the procession Avas passing they cheered themselves hoarse.

The route followed was as follows: Burke Street, Owen Street, Brown Street, Pollen Street, Pahau Street, Bailee Street, Mary Street, Pollen Street, Grey Street, Rolleston Street, Sealey Street, and then into Pollen and Mackay Streets. The stop at the ;“Star” corner in Sealey Street was to allow the pioneers to partake of the luncheon at the Masonic Hall, and to judge the displays. Order of Procession. The order of the procession was as follows: Mar shall, The VI Hauraki Band. Two Bibendens. Four motor cars containing the Mayor and Councillors, the Hon G. J. Anderson, and the Parliamentary Party, and Mayor of Auckland. Model of Works of Caledonian Mine, crushing of quartz, etc., being carried on by Messrs. J. Crosbie, J. Taylor and assistants. The sj*me used was brought from the Zeehan Mine at Puhoi, and was good specimen ore, all of which, except some rich specimens, were generously given away to the crowd as souvenirs. Cart of ore from Moanataiari Mine, Messrs. H. H. Adams and W. Verran in charge.

Emblematic display of gold won from the field in the shape of a pyratnid, in charge of T. Verran. 38 cars and two buses containing the' pioneers. Bus with Hospital nurses. ’ High School Cadets, under Lieut. Marshall.

Schools.—Parawai, Waiokaraka, Tararu, Tapu, Kopu, Puriri, some marching, others in 21 decorated lorries. Veteran footballers with old banners. Amongst these marched Mr. W. N. Gordon wearing the New Zealand Shooting Belt his father won. Ambulances. . Thames Volunteer Fire Brigade—old manual engine, 1869, hook and ladder cart, 1870; hand reel, 1880; followed by present motor outfit. Maori Canoe—Tapari and party, made of flax. In it six sturdy Maoris gladdened the hearts of the crowd with an occasional haka. Prospector and pack horses. Trade Displays.

Fisheries Ltd., striking display of Coloured ice.

Hauraki Stores, Ltd., farm imple ments and separators. F. Battson, model bathroom with all conveniences. A. and G. Price, Ltd., two lorries representing boiler makirig and manufacture of mining plant, a working model of a ten-head battery. “Thames Star,” old printing press used by the Advertiser in 1868. Fishermen’s Co-op., model dining room.

McDonnell and McMillan, lorry chassis with car superimposed, both Chevrolets. (The car is the one that the Hospital Board has purchased for the District Nurse.)

Isaac Brown and Co., display of bicycles. Forllgvfing the lorry were models of hobby horse—old wooden bicycle and a tricycle. R. S. Kallu, decorated lorry. James Renshaw, spring cart of miners’ supplies reminiscent of the old times.

Bullock waggon drawn by a team of 12 working bullocks. Prospector (W. Sutcliffe). Miner (C. Johnston). Prospector and wife, 1862, Messrs. Dave Kemp and John D. Taylor. Pig-hunting Outfit, Chinese laundry, “One Lung,” Messrs. C. Rockley and W. Goodwin. Col. Fraser and driver, Messrs. T. Autridge and A. Howe. Tararu Gardens, J. Maher. Decorated cycles, P. Howe, Margery Watt, N. Richardson and R. Kenny. Decorated Handcart, A. Kenny. Pack-horses, Devcich Bros. Menagerie, N. Barbalich. Gumdigger and dog, F. Amy. Black Star Motor Service, J. Godwin.

Caterpillar, hockey girls

Goat cart drawn by five goats. Decorated cars were entered by Messrs. G. Pearson, Geo. Sargent, H. Donkin, W. Pearson, W. T. Smith, F. Adamson, G. Mincher, W. R. Gleeson, N. Jonassen, H. Cordes. H. Blazev, H. Kerby, J. Kernick, L. Dodd, D. McL. Wallace, Ltd., E. J. Clendon, F. MoMah on. H. Lowe, D. Liggins, D. Me Watters. J. H. Ensor,' Dr. Sowerbv. L. Gibbons, D. C. Brown, G. Gundlnck. F. H. Clexton, J. W. Danby A. Wilson. Dr. Gray, L. Griffin, R. Kirk. F. W. Hetherington, E. N. Miller, B. Gilmer. A. Court. IV. Price, T. Newman, H. Murray, G. P. Lamb,

A. "Winder, A. J. Edwards," J. Lamb, Denize (2), W. Paul, Mrs. A. Bruce and Mrs. Watt. /

Buggy driven by Mr. R. M. Rhode Mrs. T. A. Dunlop as passenger. On the pioneers being taken to th Masonic Hall the procession dispersed An interesting exhibition was givei by the Fire Brigade at the “Star’ corner, of the old Manual engine.